The  Mountain  People  in 
Eastern  Kentucky, 

— BY — 

REV.  G.  S.  DICKERMAN,  D.  D. 


As  life  grows  artificial  a sigh  rises  for  what  is  natural. 
From  an  atmosphere  of  pretense  our  refuge  is  to  the  woods 
and  hills  with  a feeling  that  in  coming  close  to  nature,  we 
are  not  likely  to  go  far  from  experiences  that  are  sound  and 
healthy.  Not  all  the  advantages  of  life  are  with  the  man- 
sion ; in  many  points  the  cabin  is  better,  and  a child  grow- 
ing up  in  simplicity  may  have  a force  and  poise  that  do  not 
come  with  conventional  education. 

> Rich  in  Cabin  Homes. 

The  Appalachian  region  is  rich  in  cabin  homes.  Not 
that  other  regions  do  not  have  them  too.  Probably  half  of 
the  American  people,  or  more,  live  in  insolated  country 
dwellings,  often  of  great  simplicity.  But  among  the 
Appalachians  the  simplicity  is  more  marked  and  general. 

Particular  attention  is  here  given  to  the  Appalachian  por- 
tion of  Kentucky.  Thirty-five  counties  may  be  classed  as 
belonging  to  the  mountains.  These  are  shown  on  the  map 
(p.  10)  by  the  shading.  The  neighboring  counties  in  other 
states  are  also  indicated.  A circle  is  drawn  with  a radius 
of  100  miles  from  Berea  which  will  tell  the  distance  of 
various  localities  from  that  center.  Returns  of  the  Census 
for  these  counties  are  presented  in  a number  of  tables  which 
contain  also  the  returns  for  the  whole  state  of  Kentucky 
and  for  seven  other  states,  West  Virginia,  Pennsylvania, 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut 

The  combined  area  of  these  mountain  counties  is  12,954 
square  miles  or  nearly  a third  of  the  area  of  the  whole 
state  This  is  a little  larger  than  the  area  of  Massachusetts 
and  Connecticut  together  which  is  12,885  miles. 

The  mountain  population  in  1900  was  476,085  while 
that  of  the  whole  state  was  2,147,174.  A third  of  the 
state  contained  less  than  a quarter  of  the  people.  If 


I 


2 THE  CENSUS  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS 

however,  the  population  of  cities  and  towns  of  over 
2,500  inhabitants  is  left  out,  the  rural  population  of  the 
mountains  is  found  to  be  457,909  and  that  of  the  state 
1,474,525,  which  makes  the  proportion  much  more  nearly 
equal ; that  is,  outside  of  the  towns  the  mountains  are 
almost  as  populous  as  the  rest  of  Kentucky.*  But,  again,  if 
we  compare  the  mountains  with  Massachusetts  and  Con- 
necticut it  appears  that  these  states  have  a population 
together  of  3,713,766,  or  over  seven  times  as  many  people 
to  the  same  area. 

Chiefly  Native  Americans. 

The  Kentucky  mountain  people  are  chiefly  native 
American.  The  number  of  foreign  born  is  only  2,120, 
while  for  the  rest  of  the  state  it  is  48,126,  and  for  Massa- 
chusetts and  Connecticut  1,084,534.  In  the  two  New 
England  states  the  foreign  element  is  29.2  per  cent.,  in  the 
mountains  .4  per  cent. — sixty-six  times  as  great  in  the 
former  as  in  the  latter. 

There  are  few  Negroes  in  the  mountains,  the  number 
being  12,119,  while  for  the  rest  of  Kentucky  it  is  272,587, 
and  for  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  47,200.  The  two 
New  England  states  have  nearly  four  times  as  many 
Negroes  on  an  equal  area. 

If  we  compare  the  sizes  of  population  given  decennially 
it  will  be  seen  that  the  native  white  population  is  steadily 
increasing,  while  the  foreign  and  Negro  elements  are  nearly 
stationary.  The  number  of  native  white  in  1850  was 
131,027 ; in  1900  it  was  463,590,  almost  four  times  as 
large.  This  increase  comes  principally  from  the  natural 
growth  of  families. 

Old  Fashioned  Large  Families. 

President  Eliot  tells  us  that  the  average  number  of  chil- 
dren in  the  families  of  the  married  graduates  of  Harvard 
University  is  two.  This  is  not  the  record  of  these  moun- 
tain families.  Much  attention  has  been  given  of  late  to 
genealogical  studies  in  the  older  parts  of  our  country.  One 

♦This  condition  is  not  of  long  standing.  It  has  just  been  reached  by  the  rapid 
increase  of  children.— Ed. 


THE  BEREA  QUARTERLY 


'jyss 

3 

bookseller  in  Albany  advertises  a list  of  2,980  family 
histories.  A study  of  these  histories  is  suggestive.  Almost 
invariably  they  tell  a story  of  early  colonial  life  marked  with 
simplicity  and  the  sturdy  spirit  that  delights  in  overcoming 
hardship,  when  the  tribe  grew  strong,  multiplied  fast, 
spread  abroad  and  conquered  the  wilderness  ; after  which 
comes  a tale  of  wealth,  culture  and  magnificence  in  con- 
nection with  which  one  may  observe  the  rarity  of  children 
and  how  families  dwindle  till  no  prophetic  finger  is  needed 
to  write  Mene  mene  at  the  end  of  the  chapter.  These 
people  of  the  mountain  cabins  are  still  in  their  period  of 
family  virility.  Of  their  native  white  population  in  1900, 
41.3  per  cent,  was  between  the  ages  of  5 and  20  years, 
while  in  Massachusetts  the  proportion  was  only  23.3 
per  cent. 

The  occupation  of  this  region  dates  from  the  beginning 
of  the  last  century.  In  1800  the  mountain  region  is 
reported  under  the  four  names,  Fleming,  Floyd,  Knox  and 
Pulaski,  and  their  population  is  given  as  9,764,  of  which 
9,111  was  white;  the  population  of  the  whole  state  being 
at  that  time  220,955,  of  which  179,873  was  white,  Since 
then  the  progress  has  been  steady  as  may  be  seen  by  the 
reports  of  the  Census  at  the  end  of  each  decade. 

Severity  of  Pioneer  Conditions. 

The  usual  way  of  maintenance  has  been  by  tilling  the 
ground  and  raising  a few  cattle  and  fowls. * In  1900  there 
were  67,631  farms  of  which  the  average  size  was  98  acres. 
The  number  of  farms  under  10  acres  was  6,872  and  the 
number  over  500  acres  was  1,343,  so  that  about  60,000 
were  between  these  two  limits.  The  number  of  farms 
conducted  by  their  owners  or  part  owners  was  44,689,  while 
22,636  were  in  the  hands  of  tenants.  Of  farm  homes  the 
number  was  66,609,  of  which  37,487  were  owned  free  of 
debt,  3,082  were  under  encumbrance  and  23,961  were  hired. 
Comparing  these  figures  with  those  for  the  rest  of  the  state 
and  for  the  seven  other  states  mentioned  in  the  tables  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  differences  are  not  very  considerable. 


♦Hunting  was  a distinct  resource  in  the  memory  of  the  older  men,  and  lumbering 
is  important  in  the  vicinity  of  streams.  Ed. 


4 


THE  CENSUS  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS 


When  we  turn  to  the  estimated  values,  however,  it  is 
quite  otherwise.  The  average  value  of  the  mountain 
farms  with  their  improvements,  except  buildings,  is  $482, 
while  in  the  rest  of  the  state  it  is  $1,548;  in  West  Vir- 
ginia it  is  $1,446  and  in  the  other  states  varies  from  $2,305 
in  Massachusetts,  to  $5,732  in  Illinois.  The  buildings  are 
valued  at  $151  per  farm  in  the  mountains,  in  the  rest  of  the 
state  at  $483,  in  West  Virginia  at  $366,  and  reach  the 
highest  figure  of  $1,885  in  Massachusetts.  The  implements 
used  in  the  mountains  have  an  average  value  of  $25  per 
farm  while  in  the  rest  of  Kentucky  it  is  $82,  in  West 
Virginia  $54  and  in  Massachusetts  $234,  So  too  of  the  live 
stock  and  farm  products,  the  figures  show  that  they  have  a 
very  much  smaller  estimated  value  here  than  elsewhere. 
Farmers  everywhere  are  understood  to  follow  a frugal  life 
and  to  gain  their  livelihood  by  severe  toil,  but  here  in 
Eastern  Kentucky  the  conditions  have  much  greater 
severity. 


MOUNTAIN  HOME— POORER  TYPE. 

Manufactures  in  their  Infancy. 

Manufacturing  industries  are  in  their  infancy.  In  thirty- 
four  of  the  counties,  leaving  out  Leslie  which  is  unreported, 
there  are  in  all  1,274  establishments,  with  a total  capital  of 
$8,659,162,  giving  an  average  of  $6,796  to  each  establish- 
ment. Two  counties  Bell  and  Boyd  are  exceptional  in 
that  they  contain  important  manufacturing  communities 


THE  BEREA  QUARTERLY 


5 


such  as  Middlesboro,  Ashland  and  Catlettsburg.  These 
two  counties  contain  172  establishments  with  an  aggregate 
capital  of  $5,201,489  which  shows  an  average  of  $30,241 
for  each,  This  accounts  for  considerably  more  than  half 
of  the  capital  for  all  the  counties.  If  we  exclude  these 
counties  the  remaining  thirty-two  have  an  aggregate  capital 
in  manufactures  of  only  $3,457,673,  for  1,102  establish- 
ments, an  average  of  $3,138.  In  seven  counties  the  average 
is  less  than  $1,000  per  establishment.  This  indicates  the 
soft  of  manufactories  usually  found,  saw-mills,  grist-mills, 
blacksmith’s  shops,  carpenter’s  shops  and  the  like,  such  as 
are  required  in  the  primitive  community. 

The  contrast  with  some  of  the  other  states  is  striking, 
especially  so  with  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  which 
for  an  equal  territory  have  38,308  establishments  with  an 
aggregate  capital  of  $1,137,961,023  which  is  $29,705  for  an 
average.  The  value  of  manufactured  products  in  the  34 
Kentucky  counties  is  $15,675,619;  in  the  32  counties, 
_ without  Bell  and  Boyd,  $8,598,887,  while  in  the  two  New 
England  states  it  is  $1,388,023,095.  The  number  of  wage 
-earners  in  manufactories  in  the  34  counties  is  5,260,  in  the 
32  counties  2,646,  and  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut 
674,142. 

The  position  and  occupations  of  wage  earners  is  very 
different  in  the  mountains  from  what  it  is  in  New  England 
manufacturing  towns.  Generally  less  skill  is  required  and 
the  cost  of  living  is  much  less.  This  is  sufficient  to  account 
for  the  less  wages.  In  the  mountains  men  receive  during 
the  year  on  an  average  $370,  women  $181,  and  children 
under  16  years  of  age  $153.  In  Massachusetts  they  receive 
respectively  $527,  $319  and  $195,  and  in  Connecticut  not 
far  from  the  same. 

Most  of  the  wage  earners  in  the  mountains  are  men. 
The  number  of  women  is  47  of  which  28  are  in  Boyd 
county  and  26  counties  have  none.  The  number  of  children 
is  86  of  which  Boyd  county  has  52  and  23  counties  have 
none.  Massachuseits  has  143,109  women  in  her  manufac- 
tories and  10,419  children.  In  the  other  84  counties  of 


6 


THE  BEREA  QUARTERLY 


“LOOK  ON  THIS  PICTURE 


A STATISTICAL 

A FAIR  OF 


The  assessed  property  valuation  in  New  York  State 
is  $2,661  for  each  person  of  school  age. 


CARTOONS. 


7 


CARTOON. 

YOUNG  AMERICANS. 


The  assessed  property  valuation  in  the  Kentucky 
Mountains  is  $248  for  each  person  of  school  age. 


AND  ON  THIS!" 


8 


THE  CENSUS  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS 


Kentucky  there  are  9,127  women  and  2,601  children.  In 
the  two  Carolinas,  which  report  118,755  wage  earners, 
25,396  are  women  and  18,937  children.  In  this  respect  as 
in  others  the  homes  of  this  region  are  free  from  dangers  to 
the  family  that  are  prevalent  in  more  populous  districts. 

Negro  Population  Small. 

The  figures  show  that  the  number  of  Negroes  is  small, 
but  in  fact  as  an  element  of  the  mountain  population  it  is 
much  smaller  than  it  seems  to  be.  Most  of  them  live  in 
the  few  large  towns.  Four  of  these  towns  have  a popula- 
lion  of  over  2,500;  they  are  Ashland  6,800,  Catlettsburg 
3,081,  Middlesboro  4,162  and  Somerset  3,384.  These  con- 
tain 2,180  Negroes  17  per  cent,  of  all.  Ten  other  towns 
have  over  1,000  inhabitants,  Pineville  2,072,  Corbin  1,544, 
Williamsburg  1,495,  Flemingsburg  1,268,  Vanceburg  1,161, 
London  1,147,  Moorehead  1,100,  Louisa  1,099,  Clay  City 
1,065  and  Barbourville  1,010.  No  other  village  has  as 
many  as  750  people.  There  are  seven  counties  which  con- 
tain 7,623  Negroes,  leaving  only  4,496  for  the  other  28. 
The  seven  are  Boyd,  Bell,  Knox,  Whitley,  Fleming, 
Pulaski  and  Laurel,  each  containing  one  or  more  of  these 
towns.  Johnson  county  has  only  1 Negro.  Elliott  only  2 
and  nine  others  each  less  than  100. 

The  number  of  Negroes  in  1800  was  594,  of  whom  579 
were  slaves.  From  this  time  on  the  increase  was  steady 
till  1860  when  there  were  10,273,  of  whom  1,267  were  free 
and  9,006  slaves.  In  the  next  decade,  which  was  that  of 
the  war,  there  was  a decrease  and  the  number  in  1870  was 
8.524.  During  the  last  thirty  years  there  has  been  some 
increase,  but  not  great.  The  record  in  this  respect  is  quite 
in  contrast  with  that  of  some  northern  states.  In  Pennsyl- 
vania the  increase  in  30  years  was  from  65,294  to  156,845, 
in  Massachusetts  from  13,947  to  31.974,  in  Indiana  from 
24,560  to  57,505,  in  Illinois  from  28,762  to  85,078,  while  in 
these  35  counties  of  Kentucky  it  was  from  8,524  to  12,119. 
The  proportion  of  Negroes  to  whites  is  nearly  the  same  in 
this  part  of  Kentucky  as  in  Ohio,  or  in  Boston,  Hartford 
and  New  Haven,  but  with  the  difference  that  their  number 
is  not  increasing  so  fast.  On  this  account  the  Negroes  should 


THE  BEREA  QUARTERLY 


9 


hardly  be  considered  apart  from  the  general  community 
any  more  than  in  the  North. * 

The  intelligence  of  the  mountain  people  is  in  keeping 
with  their  history  and  manner  of  life  It  is  not  the  sort  of 
intelligence  that  comes  from  constant  reading — whether  of 
good  literature  or  of  yellow  journals  and  unspeakable 
novels — it  is  not  the  intelligence  that  we  see  in  cities  and 
on  the  thoroughfares  of  commerce,  but  it  is  intelligence 
nevertheless,  and  often  of  a high  order,  not  unlike  that 
which  prevailed  generally  among  the  scattered  homes  of 
the  American  colonists  and  which  eventually  founded  the 
republic. 

Illiteracy  not  Fatal  to  Character. 

Nothing  is  easier  than  to  misinterpret  illiteracy.  It  is 
our  modern  way  to  identify  intelligence  with  the  ability  to 
read  and  write  and  to  regard  the  person  who  cannot  do 
these  as  incapable  of  any  high  activities.  It  was  not 
always  so.  If  anyone  will  take  the  trouble  to  look  into 
the  old  colonial  records  in  Boston  or  New  Haven,  in  Ports- 
mouth, Virginia,  or  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  he  will 
find,  as  the  writer  has  done,  many  an  honored  name  signed 
with  a mark.  This  badge  of  illiteracy  attaches  to  some 
who  held  responsible  offices  in  the  government  and  per- 
formed invaluable  services  to  the  commonwealth,  and  it 
often  appears  in  important  business  transactions  and  in 
wills  entailing  extensive  estates.  It  is  said  of  the  mother 
of  Thomas  Carlyle  that  she  learned  to  write  after  her  son 
had  gone  to  the  University  at  Edinburgh  so  that  she  might 
answer  his  letters,  and  not  a few  mothers  of  distinguished 
sons  in  our  early  history  were  no  better  educated  than  she. 

Even  at  the  present  day  men  are  to  be  found  here  and 
there  who  have  risen  from  poverty  to  wealth  and  command- 
ing social  influence  with  no  knowledge  of  letters.  They 
have  taken  their  training  in  handling  land  and  timber, 
crops,  cattle,  building  enterprises  and  men,  and  this  has 
educated  them  to  extraordinary  business  sagacity  and 
general  practical  knowledge. 


♦The  small  increase  of  Negroes  is  due  to  their  migration  toward  the  towns.  The 
large  number  of  free  Negroes  in  I860  shows  the  survival  of  anti-slavery  spirit  in 
the  mountains  which  came  down  from  revolutionary  times. — Ed. 


12 


THE  CENSUS  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS 


It  seems  like  the  baldest  truism  to  say  that  the  citizen  of 
a republic  like  ours  ought  to  know  how  to  read  and  write, 
and  that  anyone  who  does  not  know  how  should  not  vote. 
Few  will  dissent  from  this  position.  Yet  this  is  not  the 
only  requisite.  One  may  be  ever  so  voluminous  a reader  on 
many  subjects  and  yet  be  an  ignoramus  about  the  political 
questions  of  the  times.  Worse,  one  may  be  ever  so  learned 
and  intellectually  able  and  be  unfit  to  vote  because  he  is 
morally  unsound.  There  is  no  disqualification  like  badness 
of  character.  Illiteracy  is  not  to  be  compared  with  it.  By 
such  a standard  the  people  of  some  portions  of  these 
mountains  are  probably  better  fitted  for  citizenship  than 
those  of  New  York,  Philadelphia  or  Chicago. 

To  be  sure  there  is  an  unusual  amount  of  illiteracy.  The 
proportion  of  the  white  population  of  voting  age  who  can- 
not read  and  write  is  over  35  per  cent,  in  Clay,  Knott  and 
Leslie  counties,  while  for  the  35  counties  it  is  23.5  per  cent. 
For  the  rest  of  Kentucky  it  is  11.4  per  cent.,  for  Pennsyl- 
vania it  is  7.4  per  cent.,  for  Massachusetts  6.2  percent,  and 
for  Ohio  4.4  per  cent. 

The  condition  with  regard  to  illiteracy  in  the  mountains 
is  therefore  most  serious.  There  are  twenty  contiguous 
counties  near  Berea,  including  some  in  the  Virginias,  which 
do  not  contain  a printing  press,  and  while  there  are 
mountain  communities  which  stand  high  in  morality  and 
the  enforcement  of  law,  the  record  for  crime  for  the  whole 
region  is  unfavorable.  To  this  must  be  added  the  empti- 
ness of  life,  in  many  localities,  which  is  pitiful.  But  all 
these  are  conditions  that  have  been  corrected  in  other  parts 
of  the  country,  and  by  proper  efforts  they  can  be  corrected 
here.  In  fact  the  results  of  such  efforts  are  already 
apparent  in  the  improved  statistics  of  counties  which 
Berea  has  reached  most  effectively. 

Preserve  the  Simple  Life. 

More  than  this  however  is  wanted.  Something  should 
be  done  to  preserve  and  utilize  the  integrity  of  character 
and  moral  vigor  belonging  to  simple  ways  of  living.  How 
can  the  people  be  led  into  a richer,  larger  experience  of 


v 


THE  BEREA  QUARTERLY 


13 


knowledge  and  the  world’s  delights  and  still  keep  all  that 
is  soundest  and  best  in  their  old  life?  Is  this  possible? 

It  has  been  common  for  young  men  and  women  of 
promise  to  go  from  country  places  to  the  college  and 
university  and  thence  pass  to  stations  of  influence  in  the 
city.  Families  also  of  more  than  ordinary  energy  have 
forsaken  the  smaller  communities  and  gone  to  the  centers 
that  they  might  enter  fields  of  wider  enterprise  and  secure 
opportunities  of  greater  social  enjoyment.  So  rural  com- 
munities have  lost  the  people  on  whom  their  prosperity 
depended  and  sad  decline  has  followed,  In  the  older  states 
scores  of  places  once  famous  for  their  high  character  have 
seen  their  glory  pass  away  in  this  manner.  Can  we  do  no 
better  than  this?  Is  the  best  that  can  be  done  for  these 
counties  of  the  Eastern  Kentucky  to  draw  away  their  most 
vigorous  elements  and  leave  what  remains  to  decay? 

Need  of  Initiative  From  Without. 

No  one  will  say  that.  A way  must  be  found,  not  to 
take  the  life  out  of  communities,  but  to  replemish  them 
with  greater  vigor,  to  build  them  up  in  enterprise  and 
attractiveness  so  that  their  sons  and  daughters  will  love 
them  and  stay  by  them  against  all  allurements  to  drift  else- 
where. Who  will  find  this  way?  We  cannot  expect  these 
feeble  communities  themselves  to  do  it.  Others  far  stronger 
have  not.  They  have  tried  hard  and  failed.  Men  of 
wealth  and  genius  in  many  an  old  historic  town  have  given 
the  best  thought  of  their  manhood  and  age  to  keeping  its 
life  unimpaired  only  to  see  their  exertions  unavailing. 

Consider  the  resources  of  these  counties.  The  assessed 
property  valuation  amounts  to  $248  for  each  child  between 
the  ages  of  5 and  20.  For  the  rest  of  Kentucky  it  is  $874. 
For  Wisconsin  and  Michigan  it  is  $1,966.  For  New  York 
it  is  $2,661.  People  with  so  little  means  are  unable  to 
make  the  needed  improvements  were  they  ever  so  anxious 
to  do  it.  The  improvements  must  come  in  some  how  from 
beyond  their  bordors  if  they  are  to  be  brought  in  at  all. 

This  survey  has  been  limited  to  the  mountains  of  Kentucky 
for  the  sake  of  convenience.  A similar  examination  of  the 


14 


THE  CENSUS  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS 


mountain  parts  of  West  Virginia,  Virginia,  Tennessee, 
North  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Alabama  would  afford  similar 
results. 

A College  with  a Mission. 

The  vast  Appalachian  region,  with  its  rugged  grandeur 
of  mountains  and  valleys,  forests  and  streams,  is  the  home 
of  a great  people  with  an  extraordinary  history.  Here  is 
an  element  in  our -national  life  whose  peculiar  significance 
has  been  overlooked.  Here  are  latent  possibilities  that 
abide  their  time. 

This  survey  defines  the  special  vocation  of  Berea  College. 
The  ordinary  work  of  teaching  boys  and  girls  the  elements 
of  literary  and  scientific  knowledge  is  shared  in  common 
by  many  institutions.  But  here  is  a field  of  unique  condi- 
tions, offering  a vast  wealth  of  fresh  material  for  original 
treatment,  rare  opportunities  for  character  building  and  a 
penetrative  power  to  reach  some  of  the  deepest  sources  of 
the  nation’s  life.  The  thought  that  comes  uppermost  is 
not  so  much  of  schooling  individuals  as  educating  com- 
munities, of  putting  into  individuals  kindling  fires  of  richer 
experience,  to  bring  up  a whole  people  to  sweeter,  better 
ways  of  living. 

It  is  much  for  a college  to  have  such  a field.  It  is  still 
more  to  understand  the  field  and  marshall  every  resource 
to  meet  its  demands  as  Berea  College  has  done.  It  is 
this  original  work  of  discovery  and  adaption  which  entitles 
this  institution  to  its  unique  position.  It  has  touched  the 
public  schools,  and  they  are  growing  better.  It  has  touched 
the  meetings  for  worship,  and  the  religion  of  the  people  is 
becoming  more  intelligent.  It  has  touched  the  old  domestic 
industries  of  the  spinning-wheel  and  hand  loom,  and  arts 
waning  to  extinction  revive  and  unfold  to  a beauty  hitherto 
unknown.  Its  messengers  have  gone  into  lowly  homes  with 
books,  and  the  family  circle  from  lounging  listlessness  has 
become  intent  upon  profitable  reading.  Its  lessons  upon  till- 
ing the  soil,  caring  for  cattle, protecting  the  trees  of  the  forest, 
developing  mines  under  the  ground,  are  heeded  far  and 
near.  And,  so  the  quiet  influences  are  moving  on  to  con- 
quests which  are  far  more  significant  to  the  republic  than 
the  annexation  of  any  foreign  soil. 


THE  BEREA  QUARTERLY 


15 


Table  I. 

Population,  Nativity  and  Illiteracy — 1900. 


VOTERS 


Mountain  Counties 
of  Kentucky 

Total 

Population 

Foreign 

Born 

White 

Negro 

Per  cent. 
Illit. 

Total 

Voters 

Per  cent. 
Illit. 

Bell 

15,701 

186 

23  7 

541 

41  0 

Boyd 

18,834 

400 

15.6 

241 

38.6 

Breathitt 

14,322 

7 

32.4 

74 

43.2 

Carter 

20,228 

75 

23.8 

47 

61.7 

Clay 

15,364 

3 

35  2 

116 

47.4 

Elliott 

10.387 

6 

29.9 

1 

100.0 

Estill 

11.669 

9 

26.4 

56 

51.8 

Fleming . . 

17,074 

99 

12.2 

384 

54.7 

Floyd. 

15,552 

10 

30.5 

31 

54.9 

Greenup. 

15,432 

104 

24  6 

66 

54.5 

Harlan 

9,838 

3 

30.0 

38 

47.4 

Jackson 

10,561 

3 

28.0 

2 

100  0 

Johnson  

13,730 

1 

21.3 

1 

100.0 

Knott 

8,704 

3 

35.7 

40 

50.0 

Knox 

17,372 

2L 

34.0 

185 

46.0 

Laurel 

17,592 

485 

14.3 

157 

37.6 

Lawrence 

19.612 

27 

23.0 

49 

51.0 

Lee  

7,988 

19 

24  3 

70 

32.8 

Leslie 

6,753 

2 

35.2 

15 

80.0 

Letcher 

9,172 

27.8 

9 

66.7 

Lewis  

17,868 

114 

20.0 

48 

56.2 

Magoffin 

12,006 

68 

29.7 

24 

87.5 

Martin 

5,780 

4 

28.8 

3 

33.3 

Menifee 

6,818 

13 

20.4 

11 

81.8 

Morgan 

12,792 

36 

16  7 

14 

50.0 

Owsley 

6,874 

1 

27.7 

15 

73.3 

Perry 

8,276 

1 

31.4 

35 

51.4 

Pike 

22,686 

6 

32.1 

53 

66.0 

Powell 

6,443 

13 

18.3 

97 

46.4 

Pulaski 

31,293 

120 

17.7 

338 

59.7 

Rockcastle 

12,416 

36 

21.9 

46 

58  7 

Rawan 

8,277 

19 

22.1 

18 

33.3 

Wayne 

14,892 

20 

24.2 

130 

63.8 

Whitley 

25  015 

202 

19.6 

236 

33.9 

Wolfe 

8.764 

4 

19.9 

20 

60.0 

Total 

476,085 

2120 

23.5 

3.211 

47.5 

84  Counties  remaining 

1,671,089 

48,126 

11.4 

71,517 

49.6 

Kentucky  (whole  State) 

2,147,174 

50,249 

13.9 

74,728 

49.5 

West  Virginia 

958.800 

22,451 

11.4 

14,786 

37.8 

Pennsylvania 

6,302,115 

985,250 

7.4 

51,668 

17.4 

Ohio 

4,157,545 

458,734 

4.4 

31,335 

21.8 

Indiana 

2,516,462 

142,121 

5.1 

18,186 

27.7 

Illinois 

4,821,550 

966,747 

4.5 

29,762 

18.6 

Massachusetts 

2,805,346 

846.324 

6.2 

10,456 

10.5 

Connecticut 

908,420 

238,210 

6.6 

4,576 

13.1 

16 


TABLES 


Table  II 

Areas. — Population,  White  and  Negro. 


Mountain  Counties 
of  Kentucky 

Area 
in  sq. 
Miles 

White  Population 

Negro  Population 

1900 

1860 

1900 

1860 

Free 

Slaves 

Bell 

369 

13.947 

1,754 

Boyd 

175 

18,051 

5,871 

771 

17 

156 

Breathitt 

480 

14,023 

4,750 

299 

25 

190 

Carter 

515 

20.085 

8,170 

143 

37 

309 

Clay 

457 

14,800 

6,041 

564 

262 

349 

Elliott 

255 

10,385 

2 

Estill 

255 

11,446 

6.363 

223 

16 

507 

Fleming 

319 

15,489 

10,359 

1,585 

112 

2,018 

Floyd 

387 

15,416 

6,168 

136 

73 

147 

Greenup 

318 

15,160 

8,350 

272 

47 

363 

Harlan 

470 

9,612 

5,352 

226 

15 

127 

Jackson 

351 

10,542 

3,053 

19 

21 

7 

Johnson 

266 

13,729 

5,260 

1 

19 

27 

Knott 

341 

8,535 

169 

Knox 

352 

16,618 

7,034 

754 

184 

489 

Laurel 

448 

16,932 

5,301 

654 

1 

186 

Lawrence 

433 

19,427 

7,443 

185 

12 

146 

Lee 

200 

7,717 

271 

Leslie 

397 

6,678 

75 

Letcher 

348 

9,126 

3,787 

46 

9 

108 

Lewis 

476 

17,693 

8,114 

175 

17 

230 

Magoffin 

300 

11,785 

3,338 

136 

76 

71 

Martin  

224 

5,765 

15 

Menifee 

199 

6,777 

41 

Morgan 

375 

12,739 

8,986 

53 

81 

170 

Owsley 

206 

6,801 

5,205 

73 

18 

112 

Perry 

335 

8,115 

3,863 

161 

14 

73 

Pike 

760 

22,496 

7,247 

190 

40 

97 

Powell 

177 

6,068 

2 108 

375 

24 

125 

Pulaski 

754 

29,957 

15,819 

1,336 

52 

1,330 

Rockcastle 

308 

12,259 

4.946 

157 

40 

357 

Rowan  

270 

8,223 

2,139 

54 

1 

142 

Wayne 

617 

14,281 

9,244 

608 

28 

987 

Whitley.. 

578 

24,246 

7,552 

769 

26 

183 

Wolfe 

239 

8.667 

97 

Total 

12.954 

463,590 

171,863 

12,119 

1,267 

9,006 

84  Counties  remaining.. 

27.046 

1,398,719 

746,621 

272,587 

9,417 

201,975 

Kentucky  (whole  State) 

40.000 

1,862,309 

919,484 

284,706 

10,684 

210,981 

West  Virginia 

24  645 

915,233 

355,526 

43,499 

2,773 

18,371 

Pennsylvania 

44.985 

6,141,664 

2,849  259 

156,845 

Ohio 

40.760 

4,060,204 

2,302,808 

96,901 

Indiana 

35.910 

2,458,502 

1,338,710 

57,505 

Illinois 

56.000 

4 734,873 

1,704,291 

85,078 

Massachusetts 

8.040 

2,769,764 

1,221,432 

31,974 

Connecticut 

4,845 

892,424 

451,504 

15,226 

THE  BEREA  QUARTERLY 


17 


Table  III. 


Property. — Average  Value  per  Farm. 


Mountain  Counties 
of  Kentucky 

Land 

Buildings 

Implem’ts 

Live  Stock 

Bell 

$498  00 

$165  00 

$19  00 

$172  00 

Boyd 

886  00 

314  00 

62  00 

327  00 

Breathitt 

393  00 

98  00 

15  00 

170  00 

Carter 

391  00 

167  00 

25  00 

184  00 

Clay 

410  00 

97  00 

16  00 

181  00 

Elliott 

347  00 

131  00 

19  00 

194  00 

Estill 

451  00 

139  00 

26  00 

202  00 

Fleming 

156  00 

488  00 

71  02 

343  00 

Floyd 

399  00 

107  00 

16  00 

177  00 

Greenup 

611  00 

189  00 

39  00 

205  00 

Harlan 

499  00 

108  00 

21  00 

173  00 

Jackson 

284  00 

97  00 

16  00 

177  00 

Johnson 

391  00 

125  00 

14  00 

164  00 

Knott 

385  00 

73  00 

14  <0 

157  00 

Knox  

445  00 

130  00 

22  00 

189  00 

Laurel 

396  00 

171  00 

30  00 

188  00 

Lawrence 

405  00 

'159  00 

25  00 

200  00 

Lee 

387  00 

104  00 

19  00 

171  00 

Leslie 

441  00 

101  00 

22  00 

207  00 

Letcher 

392  00 

107  00 

16  00 

173  00 

Lewis 

584  00 

238  00 

44  00 

198  00 

Magoffin 

413  00 

99  00 

15  00 

198  00 

Martin 

412  00 

116  00 

9 00 

143  00 

Menifee 

485  00 

133  00 

25  00 

183  00 

Morgan 

413  00 

144  00 

25  00 

206  00 

Owsley 

394  00 

130  00 

20  00 

186  00 

Perry 

364  00 

99  00 

15  00 

177  00 

Pike  

443  00 

121  00 

16  00 

160  00 

Powell 

619  00 

165  00 

25  00 

214  00 

Pulaski 

471  00 

147  00 

30  00 

177  00 

Rockcastle 

521  00 

183  00 

30  00 

182  00 

Rowan  

325  00 

130  00 

25  00 

171  00 

Wayne 

459  00 

157  00 

26  00 

223  00 

Whitley 

449  00 

124  00 

25  00 

181  00 

Wolfe 

503  00 

162  00 

23  00 

207  00 

Total 

$482  00 

$151  00 

$25  00 

$193  00 

84  Counties  remaining  

1,548  00 

483  00 

82  00 

363  00 

Kentucky  (whole  State) 

1.241  00 

387  00 

65  00 

314  00 

West  Virginia 

1.446  00 

356  00 

54  00 

329  00 

Pennsylvania 

2,566  00 

1,440  00 

227  00 

457  00 

Ohio 

2 953  00 

793  00 

131  00 

455  00 

Indiana  

3,099  00 

694  00 

123  00 

494  00 

Illinois  

5,732  00 

952  00 

170  00 

734  00 

Massachusetts. 

2,305  00 

1,885  00 

234  00 

418  00 

Connecticut 

1,946  00 

1,669  00 

183  00 

406  00 

18 


TABLES 


Table  IV. 

Manufactures — 1900. 


Mountain  Counties 
of  Kentucky 

Number 

of 

Establish ’s 

Capital 

Per 

Estab. 

Men 

16  Years 
and  Over 

Women 
16  Years 
and  Over 

Children 
under  16 
Years 

Bell 

42 

$46,818  00 

*765 

6 

Boyd 

130 

24,886  00 

1,763 

28 

52 

Breathitt 

17 

8,547  00 

68 

2 

Carter 

48 

4,127  00 

255 

Clay 

23 

1,023  00 

20 

Elliott  

36 

682  00 

26 

Estill 

36 

5,464  00 

91 

Fleming 

2,020  00 

58 

3 

Floyd 

23 

1,489  00 

23 

1 

Greenup 

34 

1,695  00 

88 

Harlan 

27 

857  (JO 

7 

Jackson 

21 

689  00 

11 

18 

1,122  00 

18 

Knott 

13 

916  00 

2 

Knox 

30 

2,010  00 

34 

3 

Laurel 

42 

4,329  00 

147 

4 

3 

Lawrence 

57 

1,997  00 

75 

2 

2 

Lee  

16 

4,344  00 

41 

Leslie. 

No  report 

Letcher 

21 

847  00 

16 

Lewis.  ...  

60 

3.189  00 

247 

1 

Magoffin 

12 

9,204  00 

134 

1 

Martin 

4 

7.255  00 

27 

Menifee  . 

18 

8.281  00 

38 

Morgan. 

17 

1,111  00 

61 

Owsley 

17 

630  00 

12 

Perry  

19 

730  00 

8 

Pike 

34 

1,909  00 

47 

Powell. 

24 

12.348  00 

96 

3 

Pulaski  

102 

5,183  00 

381 

3 

10 

Rockcastle 

31 

1 816  00 

46 

Rowan 

35 

4,161  00 

161 

3 

Wayne 

40 

1,134  00 

25 

Whitley 

110 

2,971  00 

261 

5 

1 

Wolfe 

31 

3,750  00 

75 

Total 

1,274 

$6,796  00 

4,927 

47 

86 

84  Counties  remaining  

8,286 

11,515  00 

46,174 

9,127 

2,601 

Kentucky  (whole  State) 

9,560 

10.886  00 

51.101 

9,174 

2,687 

West  Virginia 

4.418 

12.653  00 

29  083 

3,349 

840 

Pennsylvania 

52,185 

29,731  00 

574.606 

126,093 

33.135 

Ohio 

32,398 

18.698  00 

287,789 

53,711 

4,369 

Indiana 

5,429 

18.263  00 

133,009 

19,266 

3,681 

Illinois 

38,360 

20,251  00 

325,713 

58,978 

10,419 

Massachusetts 

29.180 

28,213  00 

341,783 

143,109 

12,556 

Connecticut 

9,128 

34,476  00 

130,610 

42,605 

3,479 

Berea’s  Comprehensive  Plans  for  making 
these  people  sharers  in  the  best  elements  of  present  day 
Christian  civilization  involve  considerable  outlay,  yet  no 
more  than  has  been  given  to  aid  similar  communities  in  the 
West  in  getting  a start  in  pioneer  times.  We  must  help 
them  establish  the  public  school  system,  bring  the  aid  of 
science  to  their  agriculture  and  household  life,  protect  them 
from  Mormonism  and  other  corrupting  influences,  elevate 
their  religious  standards-  and  bring  them  the  elements  of 
civilization  in  a form  which  they  can  grasp  and  comprehend. 
For  these  purposes  Berea  undertakes  the  following  : (Over 
900  students  this  year.) 

I.  For  those  who  cannot  come  to  school,  an  Extension  Service — traveling  libra- 
ries, peoples’  institutes  held  several  days  in  the  remote  counties,  etc.,  a work  that 
has  touched  five  states. 

II.  For  those  who  can  remain  in  school  only  a short  time,  Apprentice  Courses— 
Carpentry,  Domestic  Work,  Nursing — under  such  conditions  the  best  training 
possible  for  self-support  and  good  citizenship. 

III.  For  those  who  can  remain  longer,  a Normal  Course  and  Courses  in  Applied 
Science — Agricultural  and  Domestic. 

IV.  For  those  of  larger  means  and  capacity  for  leadership,  Academic  and 
Collegiate  courses. 

Gifts  for  Current  Expenses  are  earnestly 
solicited.  The  school  has  no  aid  from  any  state  or  society, 
and  the  endowment  provides  for  only  a part  of  the  work 
now  in  hand.  Nearly  every  term  we  have  been  forced  to  turn 
students  away.  The  demand  is  upon  us  to  reach  a larger 
number  of  young  people.  The  smallest  gift  is  appreciated. 
No  where  will  one  dollar  or  five  dollars,  do  more  good  than 
in  Berea. 

Effective  Helpers.  It  “pays”  for  people  who  have 
means,  and  wish  to  help  a good  cause,  to  help  it  effectively. 
Berea’s  recent  growth  has  been  due  in  large  measure  to  a 
group  of  friends  who  have  given  annually  a donation  ex= 
pressed  by  three  or  four  figures.  We  wish  to  enlarge 
this  group. 

The  Management  is  vested  in  a Board  of  Trustees, 
including  such  men  as  Hon.  C F.  Burnam,  of  Richmond, 
Ky.  ; David  B.  Gamble,  of  Cincinnati ; Rev.  Wm.  E.  Barton, 
D.D.,  of  Chicago  ; Herbert  A.  Wilder,  of  Boston  ; J.  Cleve- 
land Cady  and  Rev.  Percy  Grant,  D.  D.  of  New  York.  The 
school  is  under  strong  Christian  influences,  but  by  charter 
prohibited  from  sectarian  control. 

See  articles  in  New  England  Magazine , Mar.  ’97;  Outlook , Sept.  ’98;  Atlantic 
Monthly , Mar  ’99  ; Review  of  Reviews , Mar.  ’00  ; Missionary  Review  of  the  World , 
Jan.  ’01 ; and  Hero  in  Homespun , by  Barton 

Bequests  should  be  made  to  Trustees  of  Berea  College,  ) Berea, 

Cheques,  etc  , to  Treasurer  of  Berea  College,  > Madison  County, 

Inquiries,  etc.,  to  Pres.  Wm.  Goodell  Frost,  Ph.  D.,  ) Kentucky. 


